(Columbus)--- The Ohio Department of
Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) has become one of two corrections agencies nationwide
to achieve complete accreditation through the American Correctional Association (ACA). At
the ACA winter conference held this week in Nashville, Tennessee, the remaining six out of
30 prisons and Ohio Penal Industries received their awards of accreditation. Ohio and
Louisiana are the only states to achieve complete accreditation in their correctional
departments.

"Accreditation means many things. It
means an institution/department is operating at peak performance, with policies and
procedures in place," stated DRC Director Reginald A. Wilkinson. "We are
responsible to the public for the tax dollars we spend and the work we do. This helps
demonstrate that we are operating a safe, secure, humane department while being prudent
with state funds."

The accreditation initiative is a
professional peer review process based upon rigorous national standards. The accreditation
award is for a period of three years. During that three-year period, the institution or
department must maintain consistency in compliance with applicable mandatory and
non-mandatory standards.

The Department now has 30 prisons; Ohio
Penal Industries, two boot camps, Central Office, the Ohio Parole Board, Adult Parole
Authority Field Services and the Corrections Training Academy all accredited.

For further information please contact the
DRC Public Information Office at (614) 752-1150.